Close to Home: Short on travelin’ time By Tom Wharton, The Salt Lake Tribune

My best advice to those wanting to enjoy glimpses of Utah’s top scenery is to drive state Route 12, a 124-mile route that connects U.S. 89, 7 miles south of Panguitch, with state Route 24 in Torrey.

Along the way, motorists travel through a variety of ecological zones, from sun-baked desert canyons to cool alpine forests almost 9,000 feet above sea level. They pass through Bryce Canyon National Park, Dixie National Forest, Anasazi and Escalante state parks, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and a variety of fascinating rural towns.

The road also provides nearby access to places such as Tropoic Reservoir, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Capitol Reef National Park, the Box Death Hollow Wilderness Area, the Hole in the Rock Road and Hell’s Backbone.

State Route 12 has been designated as an All-American Road. … According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, All-American Roads ”provide visitors with a unique driving experience and are considered destinations unto themselves. They provide an exceptional traveling experience such that motorists go to these highways as a primary reason for their trip.”

That description certainly fits Route 12, which also has been honored by Car and Driver magazine as one of the top 10 scenic drives in the nation.